Clothing Rack Ideas

Last updated September 7, 2023
If your home has limited or no closet space, storing clothing and accessories doesn’t have to be a challenge. Clothes racks can help you keep garments neatly hung and folded and other essentials well organized. You can place racks in your bedroom, a spare room or wherever else you have space in your home. Use the following clothing rack ideas for inspiration as you plan your own clothes storage and organization solution.
Table of Contents
Rolling Garment Racks
Create a Rack out of Pipe
Wooden Clothing Racks
Ladders as Racks
Use the Back of a Door
Mix and Match Heights
Rolling Garment Racks

Rolling garment racks aren’t just for retail stores and hotels. They can also be a convenient way to store clothing and accessories at home. With their wheels, they effortlessly move from room to room, so they’re great for separating clothes based on the season. Their rolling designs also allow them to double as room dividers that you can wheel out of the way when you need to create more space.
As you shop for rolling garment racks, think about what you want to store. If you just have hanging items, a simple rack with a rod will suit your needs. Models with shelves can give you places to put shoes, folded sweaters and other items, and some have side hooks for hanging things like scarves and ties.
Tip: Place decorative storage baskets on shelves to keep small odds and ends organized.
Create a Rack out of Pipe

In rooms with an industrial spirit, pipework clothing racks can be a stylish choice. You can find ready-made clothing racks that look as if someone built them from leftover pipes and building materials.
Making your own DIY pipe clothing rack is another option. To do it, fit lengths of PVC pipe together with elbow fittings, tee fittings and other connectors. Use PVC cement to hold the pieces together, and let everything dry before loading with clothes and accessories.
Want your DIY clothing rack to match your decor? You can easily paint the pipes and connectors before assembly. Start by roughing up the surfaces of the pipes and connectors with sandpaper. Then, apply one or more coats of spray paint and allow it to dry completely.
Safety: Wear eye protection and a dust mask
when sanding and painting PVC pipe.
Wooden Clothing Racks

Consider wood for storage in an open, visible area. The material has timeless appeal and brings warmth to rooms. Wood clothing racks are typically very sturdy and come in a range of finishes to match your decor. Like other types of clothing racks, wood models include simple designs with nothing but a hanging rod and more complex storage solutions with shelves, hooks and more.
Ladders as Racks

A wooden ladder can become a clothing rack with ease. This DIY idea is especially stylish for farmhouse, rustic and industrial rooms. You can lean the ladder against a wall and then hang items as you wish. Or, use a power drill to create hanging holes and secure your DIY ladder clothing rack with screws or bolts.
Give a repurposed ladder new life with a fresh coat of paint.
Use sandpaper and chemical paint strippers
to remove the old finish. Then, add a coat of wood primer and allow it to dry. Finish it up with furniture paint in a color of your choosing.
Safety: Protect your eyes and wear a dust mask when sanding, working with chemical strippers and paints and using a power drill.
Use the Back of a Door

If you’re short on space, just open the door to reveal a smart spot for clothing storage. The right organizers can turn the back of the door into a hanging clothing rack for shirts, slacks, skirts and more. Over-the-door hooks usually take only a few minutes to install, and they come in a variety of styles. Some fold flat when not in use for added convenience.
Mix and Match Heights

Combining clothing racks of varying heights can allow you to store more in a small area. With double-rod clothing racks, sweaters, blouses and dress shirts can easily hang above pants, skirts, shorts and jeans. Place a two-rod rack next to a full-length one to get storage space for dresses and suits.
Tip: Hang closet rods or clothing racks from chains anchored to the ceiling to conserve wall and floor space.
Freestanding Coat Racks

Entryway furniture can serve as handy clothing storage solutions in other parts of your home. Freestanding coat racks maximize space for storing clothing and accessories because they usually have hooks on all sides. Choose a coat rack that goes with the colors and style of your room for a well-matched look.
Hall trees can also work wonders in spaces with limited or no closet space. They usually combine hanging hooks with other types of storage, such as drawers, shelves and shoe racks, giving you places to stash many different items. Some even provide a comfortable bench where you can sit while pulling on your pants or tying your sneakers.
Wall Hooks

Turn blank walls into clothing storage areas with decorative wall hooks. You can purchase individual hooks to spread throughout the bedroom or models that feature multiple hooks on one wall plate. Use hooks on their own or position them next to a clothing rack to expand your organizational options..
Clothes Drying Racks

Laundry drying racks can provide extra storage space as needed. Most fold flat or come apart, so they’re great for guest rooms. You can also use them as everyday clothing racks in the main bedroom or kids’ rooms. Designs range from small racks that hold folded or draped items to tall ones that include hanging rods.
Keep your clothing rack hidden from sight and add new colors and textures to your room with curtains. Hang a curtain rod that match your decor. When you need access to your clothing and accessories, simply push the panels along the rod to reveal the racks behind them.
Let the above clothing rack ideas inspire your own designs. To get started, make a list of what types of clothing and accessories you need to store. Whether you want to build something yourself or buy a ready-to-use clothes rack, The Home Depot has whatever you need to store and organize your apparel. Use The Home Depot Mobile App to locate products and check inventory. We’ll take you to the exact aisle and bay.